West Java
Home of the nation's capital, Jakarta, West Java is frequently overlooked by travellers. However, there are some interesting places to see, such as the beaches from Anyer to Carita, the old hill station of Bogor, and the capital of West Java, Bandung.
In this section
The capital of Western Java sits up in the mountains which line the island of Java's spine, about two hours' drive from the national capital of Jakarta. The cool mountain air makes Bandung a very popular weekend destination for Indonesians who live in Jakarta. Adding to the attraction is the presence of numerous factory outlet style stores, making Bandung something of a shoppers paradise for Indonesians. Completing the picture are many good restaurants.
Indonesia's capital is home to more than 10 Million people, most of whom seem to be sitting in traffic at any given point in time. The city has long since replaced Bangkok as one of the worst places for traffic in Southeast Asia. While there are remnants of the old 17th Dutch settlement of Batavia, it's difficult to say whether or not this is worth the time and effort it takes to see it.
